Governor Proclaims Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month 2023

WHEREAS, bleeding disorders are the inability to form a proper blood clot and are characterized by extended bleeding after injury, surgery, trauma, or menstruation; blood disorders can lead to significant morbidity and can be fatal if not treated effectively; and

WHEREAS, according to the National Hemophilia Foundation, as many as half of all people with hemophilia from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s became infected with HIV and/or Hepatitis C due to contamination of blood supply and blood products, before the identification of AIDS brought about more stringent blood safety measures and tests; and

WHEREAS, President Ronald Reagan first designated National Hemophilia Awareness Month in March of 1986; in 2016, the United States Department of Health and Human Services expanded this observance by designating March as National Bleeding Disorders Month; and

WHEREAS, Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month in North Carolina will generate greater awareness and understanding of not only hemophilia but all inheritable bleeding disorders, including von Willebrand disease, which alone impacts an estimated 1 percent of the U.S. population, or more than 3.2 million individuals; and

WHEREAS, Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month is an opportunity to foster a greater sense of community and shared purpose among individuals with all inheritable bleeding disorders; and

WHEREAS, during this month, bleeding disorder advocates wear red material around their neck (e.g., leis, scarves, ties); and

WHEREAS, raising awareness of bleeding disorders will elevate engagement and increase support for this community, as well as promote further understanding for the research, prevention, and proper treatment for these diseases;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim March, 2023, as “BLEEDING DISORDERS AWARENESS MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.